I love, love, love my iPad. I consider my office to be wherever the iPad and I are at that exact moment. Check out my Realtor iPad Apps Group on Active Rain for over 300 posts on how to use your iPad for your Real Estate Business.

Uses of the iPad…….Are you Truly Paperless and Mobile?

Today, most of us have a smart phone. You can read your email and have apps to take care of most needs like Facebook, password database, store phone numbers/Email addresses, take pictures and most important to send text messages/picturesimmediately.

But what I believe is that to be totally mobile and stay on top of your business you must have an iPad. Several months ago, I posted an article “I am in love with my iPad”. Since then, I have learned so much more about using my iPad and I love it even more than before.

If you are a savvy shopper there are numerous apps to check pricesimmediately. If you are in a store, there are apps to check prices of a particular item. It will give you the price of all the competitors so you can feel comfortable about purchasing it or not! No more driving to store after store or calling on the phone but just open your app and scan the UPC bar code. What amazing technology we live in! I heard on the news this morning that over 25% of all Black Friday shoppers used an app to check competitor prices while shopping.

Now whatever business you are in, you will find apps to make your life easier. I am in real estate so I have found several that I like to use with my iPad. Now this article is not about what apps to download so I will leave a link at the bottom. But my point here is with modern technology; we have become more sophisticated and can take care of our customers’ needs immediately. My smart phone and iPad make me almost completely mobile at all times.

If someone calls you on the phone to ask about an address, they do not want to hear “I am driving in the car but will call you back in an hour when I get back to my office”. They expect you to say “Just a second, let me look that up for you”. You can pull over and look the address up immediately and proceed from there to assist them in finding a home. The customer will be so grateful that you have 1) Answered your phone and 2) Gave them immediate information about the house they were interested in.

When you have a listing appointment, do you print all the contractual forms and disclosures or do you have the forms in your iPad and let the client sign with a “Stylus Pen”? I personally have found that many clients still prefer the old fashioned method of holding the forms in their hand and signing them. But then I can scan them and send the forms directly to their email. There are still a few who are not on the internet and that is fine too as we are there to assist them at whatever level they are at; internet or not.

Electronic Signatures are great for many who are busy and can just open their computer, sign and send it backimmediately.

I have a blog on ActiveRain and like to post daily and recently my computer crashed! I was devastated and when I took it in to the Tech dept of my local store, I was told 5-7 days to back-up, scan, remove viruses, and return. Oh my gosh, what will I do without my computer? Then I was left with the dilemma of how to create and insert pictures in my blog. Luckily my iPad was there to help me and with some technical advice from some savvy iPad users I know, I continued to blog daily and insert pictures with an embedded code. I was able to post quickly and immediately.

I was also on a trip recently out of the country and my iPhone did not work immediatley though I had paid for calls/text messages through my carrier. The calls and text messages were sporadic and full of static. BUT my iPad was there and I was able to receive emails and reply immediately. I had a new respect for my iPad and still felt connected to everyone.

I do have one recommendation; buy a hard case that has a keyboard. You can set it up on a table or in your lap and type on the keyboard which is more like a real computer plus the hard case protects the iPad from damage in case it falls.

As you can see, the major point I am trying to make here is with your smart phone and iPad, you can take care of most needs IMMEDIATELY and will also save a tree by becoming paperless. If you do not have an iPad, then you should consider getting one immediately! You will realize that your life will be so much easier and wonder how you ever survived without one. There is no best tool except the one you actually use. Only you can choose what route you will take but to stay competitive, you must be more technical and mobile.

California is a dream come true state no matter what your needs or wants are. We have year round warm weather, beautiful beaches, rustic mountains and desert communities. If you are looking for a home in southern California, please contact me. I am a local California Realtor, live in the Inland Empire community and aware of the local market. I am here to help you find a home or to sell the home you currently own. California has great opportunities to view Nature and Bird Watching. Whatever your needs are, you will find it here in California! From the Inland Empire you are 45 minutes to the beaches, mountains or desert. Housing is affordable in the Inland Empire area. Call me!

I sell real estate in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. I am a trained and experienced Short Sale agent. If you are looking for a professional and experienced agent, I am just a click away. Google me at Kristin Hamilton-Real Estate Agent. Homeowners and Buyers both will find my services top notch and successful. Call me to sell your home; both traditional and short sales. If you want to sell your home, call Kristin @909-557-6966 or email me at kristinhamilton@kw.com.